Old Kitchen Removal in Zurich: Dismantling, Cost & Disposal

Anyone in Kreis 10 (Höngg district) who wants to take out an old fitted kitchen before a renovation faces screwed-in cabinets and heavy appliances. If you need kitchen removal in Zurich, three questions matter: who dismantles it, where do the parts go and what does it cost?

Household waste counts as municipal waste (Siedlungsabfälle) under the Verordnung über die Vermeidung und die Entsorgung von Abfällen (VVEA), the Swiss waste ordinance. Under the Umweltschutzgesetz (USG), the Federal Act on the Protection of the Environment, the cantons are responsible, and in practice the municipalities. In the city of Zurich, that is Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich (ERZ).

This guide separates cabinets, worktops and appliances and shows what each option costs. Status: November 2026. The Mobile Recycling Centre is replacing the Entsorgungstram (cargo tram), which made its last run on 20 October 2026.

An old kitchen consists of cabinets, worktops and appliances that take different routes. Dispose of cabinets and panels as bulky waste, return appliances free of charge, and have heavy parts collected from your flat including dismantling. The ERZ pickup service takes 40 kg per piece at most. Only the Mobile Recycling Centre is free, and you carry everything yourself.

Kitchen Removal in Zurich: What Belongs to the Old Kitchen?

An old kitchen has three groups: furniture parts, appliances and small items, and each group has its own route. Cabinets and worktops count as Sperrgut (bulky waste) because they do not fit into the Züri-Sack, the official city rubbish bag.

For ERZ pickup, no single piece may be longer than 2.5 m or heavier than 40 kg. Source: City of Zurich, collection of bulky waste, metal and appliances. Many dishwashers and fridge-freezers weigh more.

For furniture in general, see furniture disposal in Zurich. The table sorts the parts of a kitchen.

Kitchen part	Typical route	Note
Base and wall cabinets	Bulky waste, taken apart	Bundle carcasses, doors and plinths separately
Worktops, sink	Bulky waste	Long panels over 2.5 m do not fit ERZ pickup
Fridge, freezer	Device return, specialist	Refrigerant, see fridge disposal
Dishwasher, oven, hob	Device return	Often heavier than 40 kg, see appliance disposal
Microwave, small appliances	Device return	Light, drop off at the Mobile Recycling Centre or a retailer
Usable crockery, utensils	Pass on	Donate first, the rest takes the licensed route

Appliances belong in device returns under the Verordnung über die Rückgabe, die Rücknahme und die Entsorgung elektrischer und elektronischer Geräte (VREG), not in bulky waste.

Five Options at a Glance: Cost, Lead Time and Effort

Only the Mobile Recycling Centre is free, device return is cheap, and only pickup with dismantling takes the strip-out off your hands. The table compares all five options.

Option	Cost	Lead time	Who carries	Best if
1. Mobile Recycling Centre (ERZ)	Free	Check location and date; usually every five weeks for four hours per stop	You, on foot, without a car	You have light parts and small appliances
2. Recycling centre Werdhölzli or Looächer	CHF 22.70 for the first 100 kg, CHF 19.45 per further 100 kg (2024 rates)	None, but check opening hours	You, with your own transport	You have a van and helpers
3. ERZ pickup service	CHF 86.50 per quarter hour of loading time	3 working days recommended, Monday to Friday only	You, down to the pavement	Everything is taken out and weighs 40 kg at most
4. Return appliances, pass on usable parts	Free when returned to a retailer	Ask the retailer or taker first	You	Single appliances or well-kept parts
5. Dismantling and pickup (Disposal.ch)	Fixed price after your photos	Same or next day in most cases, seven days a week	Our team, from any floor	A whole fitted kitchen, an upper floor or a renovation deadline

The city fees come from the City of Zurich media release of September 2024 and may have changed. The Mobile Recycling Centre accepts bulky waste, metal and electrical appliances free of charge, at 31 locations today and 33 from early 2027. Source: City of Zurich media release, October 2026.

Dismantling: Take It Out Yourself or Have It Taken Out?

Cabinets usually come off with a screwdriver and a cordless drill, but appliances and their connections belong in expert hands. If you are unsure how to do it, do not disconnect water or power connections yourself.

Disposal.ch dismantles carcasses on site where needed, carries from any floor and protects walls and door frames. Wood and metal are separated, and appliances take the return route. The ERZ pickup service does not enter the flat; it only collects from the kerb.

The ERZ pickup service takes orders by phone only, and the pieces must lie clearly visible on the pavement before 7 am on collection day. See collection dates.

Usable crockery and working appliances can be passed on. Our principle is Spende zuerst, Transport danach (donate first, transport second): we check every pickup for pieces that can be passed on.

When to Call a Professional: Fridges, Upper Floors and Rented Flats

Fridges and freezers contain refrigerant, which only people with a specialist permit may remove. The Chemikalien-Risikoreduktions-Verordnung (ChemRRV), the Swiss chemicals risk reduction ordinance, requires this permit. Source: FOEN, specialist permit for refrigerants.

So do not open or take apart cooling appliances yourself. Return them to a retailer or have them collected. Everything on refrigerants and SENS is in our fridge disposal guide.

In a rented flat the fitted kitchen often belongs to the landlord. Before taking it out, ask your property manager who owns it and whether it has to stay. For tenancy law questions, ask them or a legal adviser.

We do not collect asbestos-containing materials, active chemicals and gases, or certain contaminated materials. These require a licensed specialist company. For kitchens with mould or water damage, please ask us before booking.

What Does Kitchen Removal in Zurich Really Cost?

The cost depends less on the kitchen itself than on scope, floor and dismantling. ERZ prices by loading time or weight. The Mobile Recycling Centre has no fee, but you take out, carry and transport everything yourself.

As guide values, Disposal.ch quotes from CHF 80 for single pieces, typically CHF 100 to 180 for a fridge or dishwasher and often CHF 500 to 900 for a complete fitted kitchen with appliances. A surcharge of CHF 5 to 10 per floor above the ground floor applies (as of November 2026). The binding price is the fixed price after your photos.

Cost factor	Why it matters
Scope	A single cabinet takes less effort than a whole fitted kitchen with appliances.
Floor and lift	A third-floor flat without a lift means far more carrying than the ground floor.
Dismantling	Screwed or glued built-in parts take more time.
Appliances	Cooling appliances and heavy white goods take their own routes.
Time pressure	Tradespeople starting the same day need more planning than an appointment in two weeks.

 

Photograph the kitchen and appliances, give the floor number and say whether there is a lift. This usually lets us confirm a fixed price within an hour.

Step by Step: Planning the Kitchen Strip-Out

Five steps get a kitchen out of your flat without stress and without unnecessary risk.

1.       Clarify ownership and scope: In a rented flat, ask the property manager whether the kitchen has to stay. List cabinets, worktops and appliances.

2.       Prepare the appliances: Empty and clean the fridge and dishwasher. Let water drain and disconnect connections only if you know how.

3.       Choose an option: Compare the table above by cost, lead time and effort. Treat your handover date or the tradespeople start as the fixed deadline.

4.       Secure an appointment: Phone ERZ, or send photos via WhatsApp to +41 76 413 61 83 for a fixed price.

5.       Prepare for collection: Empty cabinets and drawers and bundle loose parts. Keep the stairwell and entrance clear.

Disposal.ch in Zurich: Dismantling and Pickup at a Fixed Price

Disposal.ch dismantles your kitchen where needed, collects cabinets, worktops and appliances in one trip and quotes a fixed price in advance. Send photos via WhatsApp, and you usually receive your quote within an hour.

Before the Wohnungsabgabe (move-out handover with your property manager), the flat usually has to be besenrein (broom-clean). Your property manager sets the requirements. End-of-tenancy cleaning is a separate service that you can book on its own.

Pickup is possible on the same or next day in most cases, seven days a week, including evenings and weekends. Our team is bilingual in German and English, which helps if you are new to Swiss waste rules. The team is insured.

We serve all 12 city districts (Kreise) of Zurich, for example Kreis 10 (Höngg district) and Kreis 11 (Oerlikon district). We also cover Winterthur, Uster, Dübendorf, Schlieren, Dietikon, Kloten, Bülach, Horgen, Thalwil and Küsnacht, plus Aargau, Luzern and Zug.

In a renovation, one appointment often covers several items: wood disposal, bulky waste or an apartment clearance.

Disposal.ch is a pickup and transport service. We do not operate our own recycling plant. We deliver your items to certified partners.

Conclusion

There is no single best way to remove an old kitchen in Zurich. Light parts go free to the Mobile Recycling Centre, appliances into device return, heavy built-in parts with dismantling to pickup. Never open cooling appliances yourself.

With a whole fitted kitchen, an upper floor or renovation pressure, pickup with dismantling saves time and effort. Questions about kitchen removal in Zurich? Send us photos via WhatsApp and get a no-obligation quote.

The information in this article is for general guidance. Rules and fees can differ by municipality and canton and may change. Please check with your local authority before disposing, or ask us.

 

Disposal.ch collects seven days a week in Zurich, Aargau, Luzern and Zug. Send photos via WhatsApp to +41 76 413 61 83 and you usually get a fixed price within one hour. No obligation.

Request a quote  |  Send photos via WhatsApp

Kind regards, The Disposal.ch Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Which rule applies to disposing of an old kitchen?

Cabinets and panels count as municipal waste under the Verordnung über die Vermeidung und die Entsorgung von Abfällen (VVEA), appliances fall under the VREG. Refrigerant in cooling appliances may only be removed by people with a permit under the Chemikalien-Risikoreduktions-Verordnung (ChemRRV). ERZ pickups accept pieces up to 2.5 m and 40 kg.

How much does it cost to remove an old kitchen in Zurich?

It depends on scope, floor and route. The Mobile Recycling Centre is free, and ERZ pickup cost CHF 86.50 per quarter hour of loading time according to the City of Zurich. Disposal.ch often quotes CHF 500 to 900 for a complete kitchen with appliances and confirms a binding fixed price after your photos.

How fast can pickup happen?

With Disposal.ch, pickup is possible on the same or next day in most cases, seven days a week. You usually receive a fixed price within one hour of sending photos. The ERZ pickup service runs Monday to Friday only and recommends three working days of notice.

Do you serve Winterthur or Aargau?

Yes. Disposal.ch collects in all 12 city districts of Zurich, as well as Winterthur, Uster, Dübendorf, Schlieren, Dietikon, Kloten, Bülach, Horgen, Thalwil and Küsnacht, plus the cantons of Aargau, Luzern and Zug. Send your postcode via WhatsApp and we will confirm the visit.

What can you not collect?

We do not collect asbestos-containing materials, active chemicals and gases, or certain contaminated materials. These require a licensed specialist company. For kitchens with mould or water damage, please ask us before booking, and we will check the individual case together with you. Just send a photo.